Attacks on this boat and other events

22 Mar 194211.50 hrs, about 50 miles northwest of Derna, Libya: the boat was attacked by Blenheim MkIV Z7793 (RAF Sqdn 203/M, pilot P/O Beresford-Peirse). U-73 crash-dived on sighting the aircraft (misidentified as a Beaufort), but the four 250lb A/S bombs dropped caused severe damage that left the boat temporarily unable to dive and forced Rosenbaum to abort the patrol. (Sources: KTB U-73/ORB 203 Sqn RAF)

5 Dec 1942The boat was damaged so severely by an aircraft attack in the Mediterranean that she had to return to base.

27 Dec 194207.15 hrs, NW of Algiers: British Wellington bomber LA971 (RAF Sqdn 179/T, pilot F/L A.H. Comfort) attacked using the Leigh Light following radar contact, but the boat, forewarned by Metox, immediately opened fire with the AA guns, scoring hits on the port engine. Four depth charges dropped missed, and the Wellington (misidentified as a Beaufort) was forced to make for the coast, reaching Tafaraoui only after jettisoning all loose equipment. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

08.17 hrs, Mediterranean, NW of Algiers: flak hits to the cockpit area and starboard engine during the initial strafing run caused four depth charges dropped by the aircraft to fall wide by 80 to 250m (87 -273 yds), causing only light damage. The aircraft attempted to reach the coast some 50 miles (80 km) distant, but had to ditch only three minutes after the attack. The crew of four were rescued from their dinghy in the afternoon of the same day by a Walrus flying boat (700 Sqdn FAA, pilot Sub Lt Neil Fuller) escorted by Hudsons from 500 and 608 Sqdns RAF).

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

27 Jun 1943The boat was forced to return to base due to heavy damage from depth charging by escorts in the Mediterranean.

30 Oct 1943The target of the torpedo fired by the British submarine HMS Ultimatum on 30 Oct 1943 in the Mediterranean SE of Toulon, France in position 43.04N, 05.57E, formerly credited with sinking U-431, was actually U-73, which escaped unscathed.

(Sources: 1987-11-01, FDS/NHB)

13 Dec 1943During an attack against convoy GUS 24 in the Mediterranean, U-73 was rammed by a destroyer, resulting in the loss of the Flakvierling quadruple AA gun.

There was another U-73 in World War OneThat boat was launched from its shipyard on 16 Jun 1915 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 9 Oct 1915. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 73 during WWI.